Kinetic Hydropower Generation from Rivers, Canals and Tailraces

Kinetic Hydropower generation from the flowing waters of rivers, canals, or tailraces is a major area of R&D in the Center for Urban Systems and Infrastructure of the Civil Engineering Department. This research has resulted in the following US patent which was developed under a research contract with Verdant Power, a New York kinetic hydropower company:

Laboratory studies leading to the above patent were conducted in the Hydraulics Lab of the Cooper Union Civil Engineering Department. The testing of the flume for flow acceleration and the vertical-axis turbine for energy extraction are shown below: